Electric train-signaling apparatus



(No Model.)-

J. R. DE MIER. l ELECTRIC TRAIN STGNALTNG APPARATUS.

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Mn/asses `citizen of the United States, residing at Las such cars less ditcnltI than heretofore without is an elevation, on a larger scale, ofmyinvenx x of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of Fig. 2.

Y cuit-wires.

switch attached to the same and adapted for UNITED STATES PATENTFFICEf,

JOHN ann Minn, or Lnsonucns, TERRITORY on Nnw MEXICO. ,l

ELECTRIC TRAIN-SMIC NALINC APPARATUS.. ,Y

Y SPECIFICATION forming paru of Letters Patent No.381,343, aatea April 17., 1888.

Application nieu Marchio, Isae.z

To a-ZZ whom, may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN. R. DE MIER, a

Cruces, in the county of Doa A Ija, Territory of New Meirico, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Train-Signaling Apparatus; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such'as will enable others skilled inthe .art to'which it appertains to make and use the same. v

My invention consists in a stationary electric couplingsection fastened tothe hood-end extension of a-railroad-car roof, a detachablej electriccoupling-section heldin saidstationary section, and a conductor"s` circuitcloser orf connection .with the pull-rope.

The object of the invention is to facilitate theequipment of railroad-cars with signaling apparatus and render the electric coupling of enhancing the cost, as will be hereinafter shownf l In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of several car-roofs, showing the hood-end portions ofthe roofs lof the' adj oining cars provided with my invention.l Fig. 2

tion, showing' in section ablock by which it may be fastened in position under the hood end of the roof. Fig. 3 is a top Yview of the saine. Fig. 4 is a transverse section in the line The letter A in the drawings represents the roof portion of a railroad-car; B, .the pull-rope; C, the stationary coupling-section; D, the detachable coupling-section, and vX Xthe cir- The hood-end portions a of the cars are pro.- vided with the stationary coupling-sections C, which are, by means of a wedge or other suit-r ably-shaped block, 0,', or other ordinary means, fastened to the inner surface of the hood, and held thereby in an inclined position and inv line with the portion of the pull-rope B bethe'hood a. Y f The stationary coupling-section C consistsof two semi-cylindrical electric conductors, c c',

having flared end-portions, c2, and apges ca,

serrano. geef/st. (Np model.)

'I lbyrneans ofwhich lattertheyare fastened to the block a', so as to afford'easy accessy to the detachable coupling. lTo the -flanges ca the circuit-wires X X of the car vare attached 1in "v l the usual manner, and to one ofv the conduct-y ors c a switch or circnitfcloser, E,"is attached.` v

'This circuit-closer AlL consists of Ya'pull-rod, e,

hung in the flange c3 of the semi-cylindrical 6o conductor c", and a ange, c4, yat the other end of the same. Between these flanges and near the 'anges c3 a collar, e', is provided on the circuitclosing or vpull rod '6, and between'thev collar e and flange c4 aspringz, is placed upon the rod e, wherebythe normal .position ofthe rod is sustained. Outside the flange c? ahook,

e3, is attached to the rod e, for the purpose of attaching the pull-rope B ofthe cartoit; and' beyond the flange ca the rode is provided with an angular contact-plate, e4, extending over 'a' "contact-spring, c ,`(which is preferablyjof spi- ,ral form,) on the" ilang'e ci' of the electriccondu'ctor' c'. -The contact-spring is touched by i the plate e* when the pull-rod e is pulled by the rope B, thereby closing the circuit. AThe end-portion of the pull-rod e,which slides in the flange c3, is providedwith a tongue, 65,.,l`

,whereby it is prevented'frorn turning. 'The lower portion of the' electric conductor cis provided with a spring, F, which, by means of an angular head, f, bridges-the non-conducting space s between the conductors 'c c', and by f. i

touching both conductors-"closes the circuit as longA as the coupling-section D is not inserted; The-detachable coupling-section D is' of or` dinary construction, preferably that'showninA l Y Letters Patent granted to J. C. Tiffany and my-l g self Novemberl, 1887, it consisting of a nonconducting plug or handle, d, at eitherendot' a couplingiconducting-rope, d', containing circuit-wiresvX X, and se'micirculary conductingl plates d?, connectedto said circuit-wilges andprovided withflongitudinal corrugationsd-tting correspondingribs,c,in the electric conductorsv c c', andan ordinary circuit-closer, di. When theconducting-plates d2 are insertedinto theV electric conductorscf, a lug, f', of the spring F will be lifted, soas tov move the portion f of f said spring away from the electric conductors c c', and thus open the circuit, which remainsV open as long as the cars are thus coupled.P Sufficient space, c", is provided around' thelug f in the electric conductor c to insure insulation of the open circuit. By this construction of the automatic circuit-closer I insure a shorter movement of the switch-spring F and a greater reliability of action, and when it is desirable to keep the circuit open, even when the coupling-section D is not used, a pin of Wood or othernon-conducting material pushed between the spring and conductor c will serve this purpose, for which in other constructions a non-conducting plug would have to be inserted into the stationary section.

The pull-rod e serves as a convenience for the conductor, as the pullrope can be connected to it, and by pulling said rope in or outside the car signals will be given.

The circuit Wires X X are permanently Ifixed in the cars and reach from end to end of the hoods over the platforms,where the stationary conductors c c are fastened, as described. This arrangement has proved to be the best for the purpose of coupling, as the said place is more easily reached by the employs than any other above the car-doorberetofore used. The coupling-sections D will in this case be considerably shortersay about two and one-half feet long, instead of about seven (7) feet, as formerly-thereby insuring less Wear of the conducting-rope and requiring less store-room for the detached couplingsections.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an electric car-coupling, the combination of a detachable coupling-section, D, having an automatic circuit -closer, d, and the semicylindrical electric conductors, c c', of the stationary coupling-section C, and a circuitclosing spring, F, having a bridging-flange,f, and lug f', substantially as and for the purpose described. 2. The combination of the electric conductor c of the stationary couplingsection C, pullrod e, having contact-plate e4, and the conductor c ofsaid section, having contactspriug c5, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. DE MIER. Witnesses:

EDWARD T. FENWICK, W. P. BELL 

